Move over, Matt Gaetz; you have some competition for the teen set:
A Minneapolis Republican strategist and political donor recruited six minors to engage in sex for money over several months last year, according to a federal indictment.
The FBI arrested Anton "Tony" Lazzaro on Thursday on charges of conspiring with others to recruit and solicit the minors to engage in commercial sex acts.
Lazzaro, 30, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of obstruction of justice. [snip]
Lazzaro was campaign manager for Lacy Johnson, who ran unsuccessfully last fall against U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minneapolis. He also was a Minnesota delegate at the GOP National Convention in 2020.
Lazzaro founded Big Tent Republicans PAC, which describes itself on its website as "dedicated to broadening the base and appeal of the Republican Party."
Hey! Tony was just trying to recruit some underage girls to his Big Tent Republican PAC! Besides, shouldn't a Big Tent Republican Party include pedophiles and underage sex traffickers? Don't they need a voice, too -- that is, besides Dennis Hastert, Mark Foley, Roy Moore, Matt Gaetz and Donald Trump (allegedly!)?
"Big Tent" Tony likes to be photographed with other distinguished members of his rotted out party:
Perhaps he and Gaetz could ultimately share a cell in a Federal penitentiary so they can share their dating tips.
UPDATE: "Big Tent" Tony's female accomplice/ pimp has now been arrested. Surprise not surprised, she's the chair of the College of St. Thomas' chapter of Minnesota College Republicans! It doesn't get any more Republican than that!!
